CORONAVIRUS | Barely a day after Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion in Kuala Lumpur were placed under an enhanced movement control order (MCO), concerns were raised if the residents would run out of food and necessities.
When contacted, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Nor Hisham A Dahlan pledged that food will be provided for the residents in both buildings.
"We help. The Crisis Management Centre (CWC) has decided to help immediately," he said in a text message to Malaysiakini today.
Yesterday, a netizen had complained that no food was given to the residents despite being told otherwise.
"No food for residents at Malayan Mansion and Selangor Mansion. Enhanced MCO has been enforced and door to door tests were carried out this morning (April 7) and they were told food will be provided," said netizen Sayyedalifkhan.
A health officer said a restaurant close by donated food for about 400 people but that was not enough to cater for the entire population of about 6,000 in both the buildings.
"They said (food) is not enough. Please ask your friends to donate (food) for the residents," the officer told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.
"These people are poor. They came from India, Nepal and Bangladesh. I think about 90 percent of the residents here are foreigners," he said.
The officer said the flats are overcrowded with about 10 to 15 people sharing one unit.
Asked if the government would send food and supplies to both buildings, he said the matter would be discussed later today.
"But even if we send rice, some units have no cooking utensils at all," he said.
During a press conference held later today, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said foreign missions must supply meals for their respective citizens residing in the Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion buildings.
Ismail Sabri, who is also defence minister, said 97 percent of the 6,000 people affected by the enhanced MCO in the two buildings were migrants.
Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun urged the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Welfare Department to donate and distribute food and basic supplies to the residents.
"I visited the flats last year and I was shocked with the (poor living) conditions. (I saw for myself) that 30 people resided in one unit," he said in a statement yesterday.
The enhanced MCO affected 365 units, which is approximately 6,000 people. The enhanced MCO took effect from April 7 until health screenings were conducted for everyone in the buildings.
Health Ministry secretary-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said health officers needed 10 days to complete the screenings.
Police and army personnel cordoned off both buildings in Jalan Masjid India before the government announced a total lockdown, making it impossible for the residents to buy and stockpile food and basic supplies.
This was unlike three other areas under an enhanced MCO where a total lockdown was executed hours after an announcement was made.
In his visit at Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion yesterday, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa had said the government would look into the need of providing food supplies for residents in both the buildings. - Mkini
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